How to Register for eTravel Before You Fly to the Philippines

Before you fly to the Philippines, there is one small online form you must not forget: eTravel. It is the country's free arrival registration, and without its QR code you may be held up at check-in or at immigration. It takes about ten minutes. Here is how it works, when to do it and how to avoid the fake websites that charge for it.

This guide reflects the official rules as of October 2026. Rules can change, so always check the official website, etravel.gov.ph, a few days before you travel.

What is eTravel?

eTravel is the Philippine government's online travel declaration system. It replaced the old paper arrival cards and combines the information immigration, health (quarantine) and customs officers need about arriving travellers. You fill it in online and receive a QR code, which you show when you board your flight and again when you arrive.

Two things matter most:

• It is free. The official site states that eTravel registration is free of charge and never asks for any online payment.
• There is only one official website: etravel.gov.ph. Any site that asks you to pay a fee is not the official one.

Who needs to register?

All travellers arriving in the Philippines are asked to register, whatever their nationality: foreign students, tourists and Filipinos returning home. If you are coming to study with us on Boracay, this includes you.

eTravel is for your international arrival, at the airport where your international flight lands. Most of our students land in Manila, some connect through Cebu, and a few international routes fly straight to Kalibo. Your domestic flight on to Caticlan or Kalibo is a separate trip inside the country. Our guide on how to get to Boracay explains the whole journey.

When to register: the 72-hour window

You can only register within 3 days (72 hours) before your arrival in the Philippines. If you try earlier, the system will not accept it. A simple routine that works:

1. Two or three days before your flight, open etravel.gov.ph on your phone or laptop.
2. Fill in the form and save the QR code.
3. Check your email for the confirmation.

If you have a long journey with several stops, count the 72 hours from your arrival in the Philippines, not from your first departure.

What you need before you start

Have these ready so you can finish in one go:

• Your passport, the same one you travel with.
• Your flight details: airline, flight number and arrival date.
• Your address in the Philippines: where you will stay. If you are staying in our student dorm, a home stay or our annex hotel, ask us for the exact address to enter.
• A working email address, where the confirmation is sent.

The form also includes health and customs declaration questions. Answer them honestly; they are standard questions for every traveller.

Step by step

1. Go to etravel.gov.ph. Type the address yourself rather than clicking an advert in search results.
2. Choose arrival and enter your personal and passport details.
3. Enter your flight and your address in the Philippines.
4. Answer the health and customs questions.
5. Check everything, submit, and save your QR code as a screenshot or PDF.

Keep the QR code where you can open it without internet, because airport Wi-Fi is not always reliable. A printed copy in your bag is a good backup.

Using your QR code

Airlines may ask to see your eTravel QR code before you board your flight to the Philippines. When you land, you may be asked to show it again to the officers on arrival. Keep your phone charged and the code ready, together with your passport and return or onward ticket.

What about leaving the Philippines?

The Bureau of Immigration also uses eTravel for departures and has replaced paper departure cards with the online system. Before your flight home, check etravel.gov.ph for what applies to you on departure, so you are not caught out at the airport.

Watch out for fake eTravel websites

Several websites look official, use the word eTravel in their name and charge a fee to "process" your registration. The official site warns about fake websites that ask for payment. Remember:

• The only official address is etravel.gov.ph.
• The official registration is free. If a site asks for card details, close it.
• Never send your passport details to an agent you do not know.

eTravel is not a visa

eTravel does not replace a visa or the Special Study Permit (SSP) that every student needs. Many nationalities get a free 29-day tourist visa on arrival, and longer stays need an extension. Our guide to the Special Study Permit and visa extensions explains both, and our office helps with the paperwork once you arrive.

Your pre-flight checklist

• Passport valid for your whole stay, plus a return or onward ticket.
• eTravel QR code saved offline (registered within 72 hours of arrival).
• Address of your accommodation on Boracay.
• Domestic flight to Caticlan or Kalibo booked.
• Your bag packed for the tropics: see what to pack for studying on Boracay.

Still planning your budget? Our guides to the cost of one week and one month of study add up tuition, rooms and fees.

FAQ

Does eTravel cost anything?

No. The official registration on etravel.gov.ph is free. Sites that charge a fee are not the official system.

How early can I register?

Only within 3 days (72 hours) before you arrive in the Philippines.

Do I need eTravel for my flight from Manila to Caticlan?

eTravel is for arriving in (and leaving) the Philippines. Your domestic flight to Caticlan or Kalibo is inside the country.

What address do I enter if I study at Paradise English?

The address where you will stay. If you book a room through us, ask us and we will send it to you.

Is eTravel the same as a visa?

No. It is a travel declaration. Your visa and the Special Study Permit are separate, and our office helps with both.